Lightning arrester



Jan. 10, 1928.

R. G. SANDS LIGHTNING ARRESTER j H665 u Patented `lan. 10, 1928.

ROY G. SNDS, Ol WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS.

LIGHTNNG- ARRESTER.

Application filed april 16,1926. Serial No. 102,534.

My invention relates to lightning arresters, and particularly to such as are used on telephone circuits.

One of the object-s of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and efficient term of lightning arrester.

Another object oi the invention is to arrange tor the automatic closing of` the circuit when lightning or other high potential intrudes upon the circuit, and also to arrange for automatically opening the circuit when the lightning or high potential leaves the circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of device having the above advantages which may be used in lightning arresters at present on the market and in actual commercial service, by merely substituting certain new parts for certain parts already embodied in the construction ot such arresters, thereby securing the advantages of my invention without requiring an entirely new lightning arrester.

.ln the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a lightning rrester embodying my invention;

Fig. is a plan of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a view ot a. detail ot construction.

Referring to the drawings, AI show a lightning arrester having a base 1 provided with two line terminals 2 and 3, to which line wires 4- and 5 are respectively7 connected. The lightning arrester proper comprises preferably two carbon or graphite electrodes 6 and 7, and an intermediate metallic plate 8, which is connected with the ground asby a conductor 9.

(in the oplmsite sides ot the electrodes (S and 'T are blocks 1() and 11 made ot insulating material, preferably porcelain. Line springs 12 and 11i-l are arranged on the outer sides of' the blocks 10 and 11, the latter being preferably provided with grooves or channels such as 1-1 and 15, in which the line springs may tit, the line springs being con nected with the binding posts 2 and 3, by suitable connecting strips 1G and 1'? preterably made integral with the line springs 1Q and 13.

Each of -thel blocks 10 and 11 is provided with circuit controlling devices 18 and 19, which are preferably located in recesses in said blocks. Each et the'devices 18 and 19 is adapted normally to maintain an air gap in the ground connection, and also adapted to operate to close said air gap on the passage or prevalence of an arc formed by lightning or other high potential in the circuit, and also to operate to restore the arc gap when the lightninfT or other high potential leaves the circuit. To such endeach of the devices 18 and 19 is preferably made of a zig zag or doubled back shape or form, as shown in F ig. 2, and is preferably composed ot two different metals having diiierent coelhcients of heat expansion whereby in normal `condition said device will be in the shape shown in Fyig. 2, but upon becoming heated as by the passage of an arc across the air gap, the

shape will be changed and the device will be str1-tightened ont to some extent, as a result of which the edge 20 of device 1S will be brought into contact with electrode 6, or the edge 21 of device 19 will be brought into contact with electrode 7, thereby closing the ground circuit or connection. The edges 20 and 21 are preferably serrated or toothed so as to provide a plurality of sparking points as between said edge and the corresponding electrode, as shown in Fig. 1. Each of the devices 18 and 19 is preferably somounted in its insulating block 10 and 11, that it makes contact with its corresponding line spring 12 and 13, said devices 18 and 19 being to such extent preferably provided with back strips or members 23 and 24:, respectively, extending along the line springs 1S and 19, a certain distance, and making contact therewith.

The insulating blocks 10 and 11 carrying the circuit controlling members 1S and 19 are preferably removable bodily from their normal positions, as' tor example, by pulling them upwardly, referring to Fig. 1, whereby they will slide out between line springs 1S and 19, and the central graphite electrodes (3 and 7. By this removability the device may be easily'assembled and replaced from time to time, as desired, and furthermore, the invention may be embodied in lightning arresters already put into service by subs'tituting for certain blocks thereby contained, insulating blocks such as 10 and 11 containing the heat controlling units or devices 18 and 19, and these substituted blocks will transform the old type lightning arresters of similar construction into lightning arresters embodying my invention and capable ot automatically closing and opening the ground connection, according as lightning or other high potential intrudes thereon or escapes therefrom, 'and as `previously described. c

It Will be understood that changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the vspirit 'of the invention.

What l claim is: c

l. A lightning arrester having a ground electrode, a resilient line terminal, and a removable intermediary member, said member comprising a bent element normally preventing connection between said electrodes and adapted to make such connection on passage ot' an arc and return to normal on the cessa- Ution of said arc.

2. A lightning arrester having` a removable insulating block containing a circuit controlling device adapted to close a ground connection upon the intrusion ot lightning or high potential on the circuit, and to open a ground connection upon the discontinuance j of lightning or other high potential.

3. A lightningarrestei having a ground electrode and also having an insulating block containing a circuit controlling deviceadapted to makevcontact with said ground electrode upon the intrusion of lightning or high potential on the circuit, and to open said ground contact upon the discontinuance vof lightning or other high potential, and a line spring cooperating with said insulating block and making contact With said circuit controlling device.

4;. A lightning' arrester having a removable. insulating block containing a circuit controlling device adapted to close a ground connection upon the intrusion ot lightning or Yhigh potential on the circuit. and to open a ground connection upon the discontinuance of lightning or other high potential, and a line spring cooperating With said insulating block and making contact With said circuit i electrode and an insulatingblock adjacent said elect-rode and a line spring adjacent said insulating block, said block having a recess containing a heat responsive device adapted to contact with the line spring and adapt-ed for. bodily insertion and removal M between the same, and a circuit controlling device carried by the insulating block and adapted to make contact With the line spring, and normally torni an air gap between itself and the'electrode, andalso adapted to operate on the passage of an arc so as to close said air gap and also to open the Vsame on the discontinuance of the arc.

8. A lightning arrester having a .Ground C M D C electrode, a ilexible line electrode and a detachable member for making and breaking contact between Asaid electrodes on the passage oi@L a heating current,'said member comprising a contracted metallic element having a serrated contact edge and adapted to eX- pand and make Contact on the passage ol an arc and to contract and break contact on the stopping of said arc.

9. An insulating block for lightning arresters having a recess containing a heat responsive device made of zigzag or doubleba'ck shape which tends to straighten on being heated, and one edge oit Which is adapted to form an air gap While the other edge is adapted to make connection Wit-h the line spring.

l0. An insulating block for lightning ariesters made ot substantially rectangular elongated torni and provided -ivith a recess containing a bent metal strip adapted to expand and contract in a. .direction cross- Wise of the length ot the block. Y il. Ani insulating block 'for lightning arresters made of substantially rectangular elongated form and provided with a recess containing a bent metal strip adapted to expand and contract in a direct-ion crosswise ot the length oit the block, said block being also provided With a contact strip making connection with one side ot said thermal unit. V Y c In witness Whereor", l hereunto subscribe i my name this eighth day of March, A. D. 1926.

nov e. sANns.

lili! 

